Video Report | Militants killed in Shopian encounter laid to rest amid tearful eyes

Bloody Sunday: 6 militants, civilian, soldier killed in Shopian gunfight

Over 15 injured in clashes, internet blocked

Srinagar: Six militants and a Territorial Army man were killed in an encounter between Militants and Government Forces started in Kapran area of South Kashmir’s Shopian District on Sunday early morning, official told local news agency.

A joint team of army’s 44 RR, SOG of JK Police and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the area upon receiving a specific input about the presence of Militants in the Batgund-Kapran village.

As soon as the forces approached the suspected spot and trapped in a residential house, the hiding militants opened fire, triggering a gunfight.

“Six militants and an army man killed during fierce gunfight, arms & ammunition, Operation in over,” Srinagar based defence spokesman Rajesh Kalia told Valley Media Service.

Sources told Valley Media Service that the slain militants identified as LeT distt commander Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, Hizb Distt Commander Abbas Ali, Hizb Dy chief Shopian Waseem Wagay@Saifullah, Omar Majeed Ganie, Khalid Farooq@ Talha and one probably Pakistani militant.

This gunfight is fourth encounter in south Kashmir from last Sunday. Since then 12 militants including top commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in the last seven days. Of them six each were killed in Anantnag and Shopian, respectively.

Reportedly restrictions imposed in Shopian and its adjoining areas due to law and order. Mobile internet service also snapped in district.

Meanwhile, intense clashes erupted in Kapran area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday following the killing of militants in a gunfight.

Local sources said that youth took to streets in Batagund near the site of an ongoing gunfight to disrupt the operation. The forces, they said, responded by firing tear gas and pellets, triggering further clashes.

Reportedly two civilians were critically injured in clashes identified as Faizan Gulzar of Shamsipora Dangarpora was hit with bullet in head and was shifted to Srinagar for treatment. Another critically injured civilian identified as Sajad Ahmad hit by pellets was also referred to Srinagar for treatment.

People, mostly youths and women, hit the streets at Batapora Kapran in Shopian when the news about the killing of militants spread. However, security forces and state police personnel deployed to foil any attempt to disrupt the operation, immediately swung into action and resorted to lathicharge followed by bursting of teargas shells.

Security forces also fire pellets and burst dozens of teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators, who were regrouping and pelting stones and bricks. Security forces also opened fire to restore peace, they said adding over 15 persons received pellet and bullet injured in the clashes.

The injured were rushed to local hospital from where they were referred to District hospital. One of the injured identified as Noman Ashiraf Bhat was declared brought dead.

Majority injured who were hit by bullets and pellets were rushed to SMHS hospital, where large number of people had gathered raising slogans.

Meanwhile, mobile internet service has been suspended in the district to prevent spread of rumours.